Paving Costs

Most homeowners spend between $384 and $3,997 nationally. Get free estimates from local paving contractors.

Paving can be a great way to enhance the exterior of your property. From having a greater ability to personalize and incorporate unique materials to avoiding the need to hire labor, doing the job yourself is not only feasible, but it can also yield great savings. The following considerations should be made during the planning stage of any DIY paving project in the interest of maximizing savings:

Select Your Paving Project

Determine the Size of the Area

Upon deciding to take on the task of doing your own paving, the first step should be to determine the size of the area that needs to be paved. In determining the necessary size, you should consider the number of guests you would like to accommodate in the case of laying concrete for a patio. Walkways and other paved areas that will not be used as a hosting or seating area can simply be measured. By carefully measuring the area that requires pavement, you will be able to accurately determine how much of the necessary materials you should purchase in addition to tools. When using paving stones, 38 pavers per-square-meter can be used as a general guide. Always order a few extra pavers just in case some are damaged in the paving process.

Planning for Drainage

While laying concrete or asphalt can seem pretty straightforward, there are other considerations that must be made. For example, constructing a concrete area may bring about a need to add drainage to prevent runoff from draining onto your newly laid patio. It is also possible to create a patio that has a slight slope in order to allow water to drain onto the patio and away from the house via the slope.

Outsourcing Parts of the Job

The process of prepping a targeted area and laying concrete can be very physically demanding. While completing the entire process as a DIY job generally saves the most money, calling on skilled labor to assist in the more challenging tasks can also help reduce costs when compared to simply hiring someone else to do all the work. When evaluating all the necessary steps, it is important to consider whether you are capable of completing the job on your own or whether you will need to enlist the assistance of friends or even a licensed professional. Doing so may be a viable option for those who still wish to save money but who simply do not have the time or the physical ability to complete the entire process.

Laying concrete can be done by the average layman and can also enable homeowners to create custom hard surfaces that match their unique tastes. By keeping the above guidelines in mind, your DIY dollar will stretch much farther. With easily accessible tools and materials, it only makes sense for those who have the time and energy to tackle their own paving projects. With a little forward thinking, it is possible to construct your own dream walkway or patio without exceeding your home improvement budget.